Draymond Green has finally opened about his fierce confrontation with Fred Vanvriet during the playoffs.
The incident occurred when the Golden State Warriors faced the Houston Rockets in a tense postseason series.
Green and Van Beat were seen in each other’s faces before their teammates quickly separated them.
Initially, Greene downplayed the incident and called it “just talking” while celebrating Vanvleet’s performance throughout the series.
In the recent podcast appearance, Draymond Green revealed that he said “words of choice” that crossed the line during a heated exchange.
The Warriors veteran admitted his mistake and took responsibility for escalating the situation.
“We saw Fred Vanbiten last night, so we’ve built a relationship and we have a lot of respect for him,” Green said.
“Me and Fred were hooked on it in Game 3. I knew right away that the series had turned into seven, right after I told them.
Green’s entry shows his comments motivate Van Vriet and Rocket, expanding the series.
Despite their on-court rivalry, Green and Van Vleet maintain a strong relationship from the court. The Golden State Forward made it to apologise directly to Van Vriet for his inappropriate comments during their conflict.
“I said, ‘Sorry, I was wrong.’ And I knew it right away, but when we’re in court, when I’m into it, I mix it with your teammates,” Green explained. “And he did what he had to do.”
This was not the first playoff meeting between the two competitors. Their most notable encounter took place during the 2019 NBA Finals when Van Vito’s Toronto Raptors defeated the Green Warriors to end the Golden State dynasty hopes.
Vanvleet played a key role in preventing the Warriors from winning three consecutive championships, creating lasting memories during the franchise.
The rivalry between Green and Van Vleet may continue to heat up next season. According to reports, Vanvleet plans to extend its contract with the Houston Rockets in a two-year, $50 million deal.
The Rockets also acquired former Warriors star Kevin Durant, adding another layer of plot to the future Warriors Rocket matchup.
The combination of Vanvleet’s expansion and Durant’s presence could make the next playoff meeting even more intense than the previous encounter.